Continuing a trend of product launch announcements, Blackboard Inc announced the inclusion of augmented reality in its Blackboard Mobile Central platform.

Blackboard Mobile's augmented reality interface leverages the iPhone's camera, GPS, accelerometer, gyroscope and compass to let users explore and learn about places around them. With a tap, students can find the nearest computer labs, navigate a dormitory complex or even see a bus blocks away moving in real time through their device camera lens. By pointing their smartphone at a campus building, users can also find out its name, significance, hours of operations and historical information.

"Blackboard has taken a truly jaw-dropping technology and brought it to life in the education environment," said Barbara Spaeth-Baum, executive director of college relations and marketing at North Dakota State College of Science. "The primary goal of our marketing group is to recruit and retain students through integrated, engaging campaigns and the launch of AR with NDSCS Mobile, fits perfectly into that strategy. We are excited to partner with Blackboard to enhance our campus experience for new and current students through an innovative mobile initiative that is reflective of our college's brand and mission."

"Our focus at Blackboard Mobile has always been to use mobile devices to make the experience of interacting with one's university as delightful as possible," said Kayvon Beykpour, General Manager of Blackboard Mobile. "We saw augmented reality as an opportunity to take one of our most used features, Maps, and make it even more useful. These updates are just another example of our dedication to making it simple for institutions to deploy powerful and sophisticated mobile applications for their campuses, and to provide an awesome user experience for students and other university constituents."